I stripped AI from my app and engagement actually went up
I’ll be honest - this scared me at first. But then I figured it out anyway.
Last half-year, I’ve felt swamped by everyone chasing AI hype. Almost every new thing here looks like just another AI skin. When I began coding my desktop Reddit app - called Reddit Toolbox - I nearly added flashy features like instant summaries or mood scoring without thinking
Yet the "RemoveWindowsAI" repo began gaining traction - so I figured this out: honestly, I never cared for those tools anyway.
So I made a move. Then again, it was risky - ditched the cloud setup altogether. No more sign-in needed from now on. Instead of keeping it, I scrapped that "AI helper" thing after all those late nights building it.
I switched to "Local-First." A simple, quick SQLite setup right on the user’s device.
I figured folks wouldn't like it. Besides, I assumed they’d complain it’s missing stuff.
That week, my memory got way better - like twice as good - all of a sudden.
Users explicitly emailed me saying: "Thank god, finally a tool that just does what I ask and doesn't try to be clever."
Some folks reckon AI’s losing steam. They’d rather use programs that work like tools - say, a wrench - instead of something chatty or pushy.
Anyone spotting this change - or is it only me pulling in a crowd of privacy geeks?
(Check out how a basic app appears in 2025 - grab it here: https://www.wappkit.com/download)
This is a refreshing take. Not every problem needs AI — but the key is knowing which problems do.
In my experience, AI works best for tasks with high volume + clear patterns (like scanning thousands of social posts for pain points). But for user-facing features, sometimes simpler is indeed better. What was the specific AI feature you removed?
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There's definitely a growing segment of users who are actively seeking out non-AI tools. I've seen it firsthand building B2B tools - a lot of accountants and bookkeepers I talk to specifically want deterministic software. They don't want "magic" they can't explain to a client or auditor.
The local-first angle is interesting too. SQLite on device means no cold starts, no auth friction, works offline. For a Reddit power user tool that's probably exactly right.
I think the AI backlash isn't really about AI being bad - it's about AI being shoehorned in where simpler solutions work better. When the core job is "help me manage Reddit threads" and not "summarize content for me", stripping the AI probably made the tool feel more focused and trustworthy.
Curious what metrics you're tracking beyond engagement. Are people paying for it or is this a free tool?
The "deterministic software" point really resonates. That's exactly the feedback I'm getting too.
One accountant who tried it literally said "I don't want software that thinks. I want software that does exactly what I tell it." Made me realize the AI-everywhere trend might be creating its own counter-market.
To answer your question - it's freemium. Free tier gives you 15 scrapes/day which is enough for casual use. Premium unlocks unlimited + some power features like bulk export.
Honestly still figuring out the pricing. Early days. But the conversion rate from free to paid has been better than I expected - I think partly because the tool is straightforward. People can evaluate it in 5 minutes and know if it's useful.
The local-first bet was scary but I'm glad I went that direction. No server costs on my end, no auth headaches, works offline. Win-win.
What kind of B2B tools are you building? Sounds like we're seeing similar patterns from different angles.